History of NCMM
"What they see is what they'll be," says Thomas W. Dortch, National CARES chairman and chairman emeritus of the National 100 Black Men of America, the organization that helped launch the movement Susan L. Taylor founded as Essence Cares in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina. Read Susan's full story on how her vision for National CARES began to take form.
A Message from Susan: We are the Solution
In January 2008, I left Essence magazine after 37 years to join with community leaders in mounting the largest mentoring movement in the history of the nation. Founded in 2006 as Essence Cares, the National Cares Mentoring Movement is, today, a fast-growing coalition of some of the most trusted organizations, concerned African Americans and caring supporters in the nation.
The vision for starting Essence Cares came in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. We could not take the annual Essence Music Festival back to the city over the July 4th weekend so we moved the 2006 Fest temporarily to Houston. I thought about what I might ask of the 250,000 Black people who would gather in Houston to enjoy the festivities that would make a difference in the life of our community. Fueled by this vision of mentoring as a weapon to fight the forces damping young lives, I reached out to celebrities Terrence Howard, Mo'Nique, Jamie Foxx, Danny Glover, Mary J. Blige, Shemar Moore, Jennifer Holiday, Jill Scott, Elise Neal, Yolanda Adams, Yoyo, MC Lyte, Common and many others. I called Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, T. D. Jakes and the leaders of some of our most trusted organizations in the nation to join me: Marc Morial of the National Urban League, Marian Wright Edelman of the Children's Defense Fund, Michael Lomax of the United Negro College Fund, and Bruce Gordon, then president of the NAACP. No one refused; they and many others traveled to Houston at their own expense, as did Michael and Marcia Dyson, Angela Davis, Kevin Powell, Terrie Williams and many other activists and scholars. It was moving and inspiring to see people change their holiday plans to help issue the call to commitment to the community. What was founded in Houston as Essence Cares has grown today to become the National CARES Mentoring Movement. But the first person I called was Atlanta-based business leader Thomas W. Dortch, Jr — National CARES chairman and chairman emeritus of the National 100 Black Men of America. It was my great honor then as it is now to work with so dedicated a soul on offering a lifeline to our young who are crying out for help.
My time at Essence was a great blessing. When I joined the company as the beauty editor, I was a struggling single mother who hadn't yet gone to college. Today — most days — I feel strong from within, joyful, and secure. My life has been transformed, and I am grateful. For me, this movement is very personal; it is my way of giving back to a community that both needs me and has given so much to me.
That you have taken the time to visit this site affirms that you, too, are ready to answer our young people's cry for our commitment. I ask that you take the time to explore this site further, then take the first step of entering your zip code above, to get connected to a mentoring opportunity in your community or even to work with the national and community leadership in a local CARES Mentor-Recruitment Circle. It's no exaggeration to say that by committing just four hours of your time each month you may literally save a young person's life.
Thank you, in advance, for answering our call to action. I look forward to working with you in this critical quest to save our young.
OneLove,
Susan L. Taylor
Founder, National CARES Mentoring Movement